Method of fibre scouring and washing



Oct. 22, 1957 E. H. BROOKS, JR

METHOD OF FIBRE SCOURING AND WASHING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original FiledJune 1, 1948 5 m kE 0W m w B M H by .2 w M d Oct. 22, 1957 E. H. BROOKS,JR 2,810,625

METHOD OF FIBRE scoummc AND WASHING Original Filed June 1, 1948 2Sheets$heet 2 Edward H. Brdo/rgdr.

INVENTOR.

BY EM nited States PatentOfiiice ,7 2,810,625 Patented Oct. 22, 1957METHOD OF FIBRE SCOURING AND WASHING Edward H. Brooks, Jr., Portland,Maine, assignor of onehalf to Elton H. Thompson, Portland, MaineOriginal application June 1, 1948, Serial No. 30,315, now Patent No.2,683,365, dated July 13, 1954. Divided and this appiication March 25,1954, Serial No. 418,722

4 Claims. (Cl. 8156) This invention relates to novel and usefulimprovements and methods of fibre scouring and washing and morespecifically is a division of patent application Serial No. 30,315,filed June 1, 1948, now Patent No. 2,683,365.

The primary object of this invention is to convey fibre Within animproved tank, convey the fibre over the top of a substantially flat topbaffle plate or platform positioned in the tank, and the underportion orsurface of said platform being concave, creating an air chamber and tocirculate liquid within the tank continually above and below the battleplate or platform.

Another object of this invention is to supply a plurality of hoppers atthe lower portion of said tank or container and pivotally mount aplurality of bafile plates on the hoppers whereby the clearances ordistance between the upper end of the baffie plates and the lowersurface of the platform may be selectively regulated in order to controlthe fluid flow characteristics within the tank.

A further object of this invention is to regulate the flow of fiuidwithin the tank and accelerate the settling of refuse within thehoppers.

A still further object of this invention is to maintain a predeterminedfluid level within the container and to relieve the accumulated refusefrom the upper portions of the hoppers.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide, openings in thecontainer or tank wherever it is desirable and to attach a manifold tothe openings whereby liquid may be withdrawn and if advisable, clarifiedor wasted.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a method fortreating stock which includes introducing fibre stock into the upperportion of the liquid cleansing agent container and on the upper surfacethereof, conveying the liquid and the major portion of the stock inorder that the major portion of the stock may be removed from the uppersurface of the liquid and then conveying the minor portion of the stockbeneath the surface of a platform which defines a submerged air zone,withdrawing buoyant waste material from this zone and adjacent this zoneand then conveying the minor portion of the stock to the surface of theliquid to again be processed.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the preferred form of theinvention;

Figure 2 is a top plan sectional view of the invention taken on the line2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the tank showing the'bafile therein and the valve in one wall of the tank;

Figure 4 is a detailed section showing one of the liquid level controlvalves;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along section line 5-5of Figure 1 showing the construction of the liquid level control valve;and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the manifold associatedwith the outlets in the tank.

Various methods and means for treating fibre, such as scouring, cleaningand the like are well known in the art. Therefore, it is one of theprimary purposes of the invention to supply an improved tank withvarious appurtenances contiguous to the tank for rendering the treatingprocess economical and satisfactory. The apparatus utilized in carryingout the method of the present invention is fully disclosed in myco-pending application Serial No. 30,315, filed June 1, 1948.

In the treatment of fibre of various types it is necessary if not mostdesirable, to utilize the usual liquid cleansing material at atemperature ranging from 70 F. to F. depending on the type of materialbeing treated. Accordingly, it is one of the purposes of the presentinvention to render the treating operation of fibre more economical bymeans of maintaining some of the heat of the liquid within that liquidthrough the utility of a closure 8 shown in Figure 3. This closure restson and may be secured to the tank or cleansing liquid container 10,covering the rollers '7 and 9 which are suitably mounted injuxtaposition relative to the tank. These rollers are identical to thoseshown and disclosed in Patent No. 2,5 33,218, issued December 12, 1950.

A pick up roller and other mechanism (not shown) is supplied at theoutlet portion of the tank or container 10 and is generally indicated at5. This functions to pick up and discharge fibre from the top surface ofthe liquid within the container or tank.

The tank which is generally indicated at 10 is used to maintain a fluidtherein of any type, such as water, water mixed with a cleanser or thelike. Said tank 10 has side walls 12 and 14 respectively with ends orend walls 16 and 18 connected therewith. The lower portion of the tank10 is formed of a plurality of successive hoppers indicated at 20 whichextend the entire width of the tank. If it is found desirable the saidhoppers may taper to a substantially circular or rectangular opening ofa Width smaller than that of the tank. This of course is a matter ofchoice.

A plurality of such hoppers are supplied and at one end of the tank It)there is an enlarged hopper 22. It is within the enlarged hopper thatthe pick up unit described in certain of the prior art patents, isapplied at the top portion thereof.

Identical level stacks or valve cages 26 and 28 respectively areprovided in the end walls 16 and 18. These valve cages communicate withthe interior of the tank and a small tongue 30 extends angularly towardthe interior of the tank partially covering screen openings 32 and 34,respectively. Stationary valveplates 36 and 38, respectively, areattached to the floor or bottom of the cages 26 and 28 for cooperationwith movable valve plates 40 and 42. The movable valve plates 40 and 42have screws 44 and 46 secured thereto by any suitable conventionalswivel connection and threaded portions or shanks of the screws arereceived in threaded apertures in the cages 26 and 23. This constructionrenders the valve plates 40 and 42 adjustable relative to the stationaryplates.

Through the utility of the above described valve means a predeterminedlevel of fluid may be maintained in the tank. Of course, outlets 43 and50 are provided in the respective cages for overflowing purposes andangularly extending plates 31 may be positioned over the openings 48 and50, as seen best in Figure 1.

A substantially fiat top baffle plate or platform 52 extendslongitudinally within the tank and has planar upper and lower surfacessubstantially normal to the sides 12 and 14 thereof and is sealed to thesides 12 and 14. Any suitable means may be used for attachment for thisplatform 52 to the sides of the fluid container. It is within thepurview of the present invention to adjustably mount the battle 52within the tank so that it may be selectively positioned relative to thevertical height of said fluid container or tank 10. Conventional meansmay be used in this connection.

The platform or baffle 52 has angularly inclined extensions 54 and 56extending therefrom which project toward the-said hoppers and the saidextension 54 and 56 which are sealed to the sides 12 and 14 thereof, toform a concave section in the upper portion of the bottom of theplatform 52. This concave section defines an air zone or chamber whichis submerged within the liquid cleanser in the container 10. The uppersurface of the liquid in the container is a distance above the uppersurface of the baffle or platform 52. Further, the air zone or chamberis beneath the battle or platform 52.

As is seen in Figure 1, the hoppers and 22 actually form the bottomportion of the tank 10 and the walls defining the hoppers have apexes onwhich a baffle plate 62 is pivotally mounted through a conventionalpivot pin. A similar construction is provided at each apex forming abank of battle plates 62. Each baffle plate 62 (see Figure 3) hasopposed perches 64 and 65 thereon with suitable pins or stub shafts 66extending therethrough. Attached to each of the perches 64 and 65 is apitman rod or link 68 which connects to the next adjacent baffle platethereby forming a continuous linkage. Thus, by revolving a crank 72which is attached to one of the hinged pins 76 (mounting the battle 62)the entire bank of baffle plates 62 may be selectively regulated. Thesaid shaft or hinge pin 76 may be any one of the hinge pins which attachthe baflle plates to the apexes of the hopper walls. However, the shaftchosen must be attached firmly to the pertinent bafile plate 62 in orderthat the rotating movement of the crank 72 may be transmitted to pivotalmovement of the baffle plate 62 associated therewith. It is necessarythat the bafile plate 62 shall wipe the walls 12 and 14 in order toprovide an eifective seal. Thus, sealing members which are preferablyresilient are attached to close marginal edges of each baffle plate 62.The sealing member may be in the form of resilient shoes 79 and mayattach in any suitable conventional manner.

By pivotal actuation of the bank or batfle plate 62 the distance betweenthe upper portion of the baffle plate 62 and the lower surface of theplatform 52 may be selectively regulated. Thus, fluid flowing in thezone between the undersurface of the platform 52 and the upperendportions of the bank or baflle plate 62 may be regulated as to velocityand volume by increasing and decreasing the above-mentioned distance.

A plurality of elongated openings 78 are supplied in the wall 14 and ascreen or other foraminous member 80 may be attached over theseopenings. It is seen by inspection of Figure 1 that the said openings 78are positioned beneath said baffle 52 but above the upper ends of thebaflie plate 62. This construction is supplied to drain a portion of thefluid within the tank 10 and to take the portion of fluid for removalfrom the vicinity of the fluid upper level but not at the upper levelthereby creating and retaining the air zone below the baflle 52 due tothe general concavity thereof. The more buoyant waste products rise inand adjacent the air chamber or zone defined by the platform 52 and itis this portion of fluid which should be drained in order that thisparticular type of refuse may be removed. With respect to the productscarried by the sub-surface of fluid (submerged beneath the main uppersurface of the liquid) they may be reclaimed and processed further. Forexample, in using wool, wax and certain types of oils are obtained asby-products.

A plurality of spaced plates 77 are defined by the spaced elongatedopening 78 and the heads 84 (Figure 6) are fitted inthe elongatedopenings between the spaced plates.

These heads form a portion of a manifold system for conducting fluid toa drain, sump or to a reclaiming apparatus, as desired. Branch conduits86 connect the heads 84 with the main manifold pipe 88 and valvegenerally indicated at 90 are supplied in the branch conduits. Amanually operative-type valve is shown. However, it is apparent that allof the valves may be regulated by hydraulic, electrical or other meansin order that each may be opened the same amount simultaneously. It willbe noted at this point that the crank 72 may be removed in favor of anelectrical or hydraulic type of actuation mechanism in order to controlthe bank of baffles, each of which is designated at 62.

Each of the hoppers 20 and 22 are supplied with valves at the egressportion thereof in order to relieve accumulated waste material. Thevalve construction may be conventional if it is found desirable and itis preferable that a slider type valve be supplied since this type hasbeen found economical and eflicient. It is essential that these valves92 may be actuated rapidly in order that the refuse be dischargedquickly. Of course, suitable grooves may be supplied in the lowerportion of each hopper in order to accommodate the slider valves 92.

The operation of the present invention is as follows: Fibre stock of anydescription, depending on the desire of the user of the invention, isintroduced by any suitable means, such as through the conduit or duct atone end of the tank or fluid container. The fibre is conveyed along withthe upper portion of the liquid across the top of the tank by surfacecontact of the rotating rollers 7 and 9, mentioned above. Spacer plates97 are attached to the sides 12 and 14 of the tank 10 in order to keepthe revolving members independent of each other in operation. Theseplates 97 serve as splash guards and the upper surface of the liquid andthe fibre is conveyed in this manner.

Due to the buoyancy of the fibre it floats on the upper surface of theliquid within the container and is constantly urged above the platform52. The pick up roller or mechanism generally indicated at 5 removes themajor portion of the fibre for further treatment. This further treatmentmay be the introduction into a second identical mechanism including atank and all pertinent parts for further cleansing operations, if it isfound desirable. The minor portion of the fibre due to the action of thedrain manifold as well as the density of the fibre stock settles withrefuse slightly below the upper surface in the container. There are twotypes of refuse which i are present in the majority of fibre cleansingtreatment operations. The first type has a density greater than one andfalls to some of the various hoppers described above to be removedthrough the actuation of the slider valve 92. The second type of refusehas a density slightly less than one and is carried along with thecircuitous travel of liquid to the air zone or chamber beneath theplatform 52. The action of the rollers 7 and 9 constantly maintains thecircuitous flow of fluid in the tank, extending both above and below theplatform 52. The refuse which has a density slightly below one ispositioned adjacent the space from the under surface of the platform 52.to be drained or withdrawn through the medium of the valve manifoldconstruction herein described.

It is intended that all of the fibre be conducted from the tank in theinitial pick up operation. However, there is always a small or minoramount which is carried with the flow of fluid adjacent the undersurfaceof the platform 52. This minor amount must be reclaimed or recirculatedin order that practical efficiency in the operation of the invention berealized. Thus, it travels with the fluid and lighter refuse beneath thebaffle or platform 52 to be again introduced as a portion of the uppersurface material due to the flow of fluid within the tank, created bythe revolving members 7 and 9.

By regulation of the bank or baffle plates, each of which isindicatedat'62, the volumetric flow beneath the platform 52 and the uppersurfaces of edges of the bathe plate 62 is regulated. Thus, by changingthe area inlet of the travelling or circulating liquid between theinitial baflle 62 and the bend 54 the Volume of fluid per unit time maybe regulated. Thus, the speed is selectively regulated. Different typesof material require difierent settings of the bank or bafile 62 and thisbank or baflie must be regulated in order to utilize maximum eificiencyin the invention.

Since the fibre is transferred or conveyed across the top portion of theliquid within the container entirely by means of the rollers there is nooccasion to objectionably twist or distort the individual fibres thusfouling the stock. Pilling is materially reduced and for all practicalpurposes is obviated by such treatment of the fibre.

In this single cycle of operation it is noted that there are twosurfaces of liquid in the tank 10. The main or upper surface firstcarries all of the stock and the major portion thereof is picked up. Thesecond surface is beneath the platform 52 and carries only a small 'butimportant portion of the stock which is reintroduced for recirculationto the upper liquid level or surface.

The operation of the device is extremely rapid in comparison toconventional cleansing operation of fibre. Therefore, it has been foundby experimentation that efiiciency is materially enhanced by introducingpresoaked fibre at the ingress portion of the tank. In prewetting orsoaking the fibre it is essential to the final product that agitation ofthe fibre is maintained at a minimum. The natural contour and curvatureas well as the condition of each strand of fibre is maintained asunefiected as possible. Thus, the wetted or soaked fibre is conveyed andtreated as described above.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will bereadily understood and further explanation is believed to beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction shown and described, andaccordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may 'be resortedto, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. The process of treating fibre stock having waste material comprisingthe steps of introducing the stock to Cir the surface of a liquid,circulating the surface liquid and the fibre stock to a position inremote relation to the point of introduction, removing a major portionof the fibre thereby leaving a minor portion of the fibre stock mixedwith the surface liquid, circulating the surface liquid and minorportion of the fibre and buoyant waste material in circuitous path, thecircuitous movement introducing the minor portion of the fibre andbuoyant waste products into an air zone beneath the surface of theliquid thereby disposing the buoyant waste material on the surface ofthe air zone, and returning the minor portion of the fibre to thesurface of the liquid adjacent the point of introduction forrecirculation thereby completing the circuitous path.

2. The process of claim 1 including the step of removing a portion ofthe surface liquid and the buoyant waste products from the surface ofthe air zone.

3. In the cleaning of waste bearing fibre stock, the process comprisingthe steps of introducing buoyant fibre stock to the generally horizontalupper surface of a confined cleaning liquid, conveying the surfaceliquid in a circuitous path, conveying the fibre stock with the surfaceliquid along the surface of the liquid to a point in remote relation tothe point of introduction of the fibre stock, removing a major portionof the fibre stock from the upper surface of the liquid at the remotepoint thereby leaving a minor portion of the fibre stock and Wasteproducts, the circuitous path of the surface liquid conveying the minorportion of the fibre stock and waste products beneath the upper surfaceof the liquid, introducing the submersed minor portion of the fibrestock and waste material into an air zone disposed beneath the uppersurface of the liquid, and withdrawing the buoyant waste material fromthe air zone, the surface liquid conveying the minor portion of thefibre stock to the upper surface of the liquid :at a point adjacent thepoint of introduction of the fibre stock for recirculation with thesurface liquid.

. 4. The process of claim 3 wherein said process includes thecontrolling of the rate of flow of the surface liquid in the circuitouspath.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

3. IN THE CLEANING OF WASTE BEARING FIBRE STOCK, THE PROCESS COMPRISINGTHE STEPS OF INTRODUCING BUOYANT FIBRE STOCK TO THE GENERALLY HORIZONTALUPPER SURFACE OF A CONFINED CLEANING LIQUID, CONVEYING THE SURFACELIQUID IN A CIRCUITOUS PATH, CONVEYING THE FIBRE STOCK WITH THE SURFACELIQUID ALONG THE SURFACE OF THE LIQUID TO A POINT IN REMOTE RELATION TOTHE POINT OF INTRODUCTION OF THE FIBRE STOCK, REMOVING A MAJOR PORTIONOF THE FIBRE STOCK FROM THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE LIQUID AT THE REMOTEPOINT THEREBY LEAVING A MINOR PORTION OF THE FIBRE STOCK AND WASTEPRODUCTS, THE CIRCUITOUS PATH OF THE SURFACE LIQUID CONVEYING THE MINORPORTION OF THE FIBRE STOCK AND WASTE